AN: Last chapter for the wee! Enjoy!
Also for the new readers thank you for picking this book!
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PS: thank you for the Power Stones DragonConquer1, Novel_Pirate, SparkleEyeMole, After_Wing, and Master_Sigil!
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Demon's Labyrinth, Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet…
It had been almost a day since the demon's labyrinth appeared and swallowed part of Seiryuu City. Hachiman's group continued moving after their previous rest, taking two more short breaks along the way. By now, they were about eighty percent through the labyrinth. Unfortunately, they still hadn't encountered any survivors, not even the bodies of those who had fallen earlier.
On the brighter side, the three beastkin girls had continued leveling up. All of them were now level 13, their stats rising so quickly that Hachiman felt confident they could now handle battles on their own without constant support from him or Sora.
Pochi had gained the skills 'Enemy Search', 'Throwing', 'Dismantling', and 'Short Sword'. Tama had 'Dismantling', 'Collecting', and 'Short Sword'. Liza now possessed 'Cooking', 'Dismantling', 'Spear', and 'Thrusting'.
Their growth was nothing short of astonishing. Compared to their original strength, it was like night and day. If an enemy had no abnormal status attacks, then even a level 20 monster should be manageable for the three of them, as long as they avoided being surrounded. Fighting multiple enemies of the same level would still be dangerous, since their party lacked both a tank and proper support.
'Their party is still not complete and has a lot of room for improvement. With Liza acting as main DPS, Pochi and Tama as Sub-DPS, they still need a crowd controller, a tank, and maybe even a few magic users… Ah—' Hachiman's thoughts halted for a second as he realized what he was doing. '…crap, I ended up thinking of this like a game again.'
"That wall~ is strange?" Tama said, tapping her chin as she stopped walking and stared at the side wall.
Her words immediately alerted everyone, stopping them in their tracks. Hachiman narrowed his eyes at the section Tama pointed to and just a moment later, a familiar interface appeared.
[Hidden Door]
He checked the minimap and, sure enough, saw a narrow passage hidden behind the wall.
"Hmm… let's see…" Hachiman muttered, opening the map and studying the 3D layout he had scanned earlier. "About five meters from this room, there's a perpendicular space below us—roughly a hundred meters across. A pit… or rather, since it's three meters deep, probably a pitfall trap." He rubbed his chin. "Since it's dangerous, make sure not to get close to it."
"Roger~!"
"Aye~!"
"Nano desu!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Arf!"
"Grruuu!"
Watching all of them respond with such energy, Hachiman let out a slow sigh.
'…I feel like I've become a childcare worker.' He sweatdropped.
After that small episode, their group continued forward, carefully watching their steps for traps and monsters. Hachiman, with half his attention fixed on the minimap, saw that they were only two rooms away from rendezvousing with Mei's and Zena's group. After that, around six more rooms and they would finally be able to escape from this labyrinth.
'But before that… the next room should finally lead us to some survivors,' Hachiman thought, letting out a small breath of relief. But just as he relaxed, a red dot suddenly appeared an enemy rushing toward them at high speed.
"Everyone, stop!" Sora shouted before Hachiman could even open his mouth. "There is a monster coming toward us fast! Please prepare yourselves!"
At the rear, Hachiman raised an eyebrow, impressed by her quick response. He watched as Sora calmly issued instructions to Liza, Pochi, Tama, Wan-chan, and Champ while readying her KuruKuru Hammer.
Even though he planned to let Sora and the others handle the approaching enemy, he didn't stay idle. Using the map interface, he checked the monster's stats.
[Undead Beast — Undead Kin. Length: 5 meters. Height: 2 meters. Bite causes paralysis. Attacks include claws. Very agile. Weakness: Holy element.]
"Level is… 40, you say?" His eyes narrowed. "The strongest enemy we've faced so far here… is this perhaps the labyrinth's sweeper?"
He looked up and saw Sora's eyes narrowed, her expression turned serious, most likely reading the information about the monster displayed on her system.
'This is just like the retro games Hachi-nii and the others play… an abnormally strong enemy shows up to wipe out players who are running out of time.' Sora pursed her lips as she finished reading the monster's details. 'Should I let Pochi, Tama, and Liza join in? This enemy is too dangerous for them. If they're careless, even a single blow could kill them.'
At the back, Hachiman remained silent, waiting for her decision. 'Now then, Sora… what will you choose? Will you let them stand beside you? Or will you face this alone?'
"Liza, Pochi, Tama…" Sora called out firmly. "The incoming enemy is strong. Really strong. It will be completely different from everything you've fought so far. Me, Wan-chan, and Champ can handle it quickly. And with Hachi-nii here, he can defeat it in a single second. But for the three of you… one hit will definitely kill you."
The three stiffened at her words. Their grips tightened on their weapons as tension crept up their spines.
"But… if you still want to fight beside me, I'll allow it." Sora added softly.
Hachiman raised a brow, and the girls let out small gasps.
"I'll ask Hachi-nii to put Geo shields on you. All I need you to do is land one hit. Just one. If you're willing… tell me now."
Right then, the enemy came out from the far end of the passage, a jet‑black panther-like beast with a crimson horn on its forehead. Its presence alone sent crushing pressure toward the three beastkin girls, making their breaths hitch.
"What is your decision?" Sora asked, pushing them gently but firmly for an answer.
"I… I will fight beside you, Sora-sama." Liza stepped forward resolutely. Her arms trembled, but her stance, her voice, never wavered.
"Fight together with Sora-sama!" Tama declared, drawing her short sword with impressive determination.
"P-Pochi t-too will fight with Sora-chan-sama, no desu!" Pochi squeaked, her knees shaking but her eyes shining with courage.
Hachiman blinked at the three beastkin girls, a small, proud smile creeping across his lips. 'Would you look at that… Sora is giving them the chance to fight for themselves. A chance to find confidence… to take a step forward.'
He breathed out slowly, feeling a small pang of emotion not just for Sora's growth, but for the three former slaves standing tall despite their fear. 'If that idiot were here, he'd probably shout dramatically that Sora now speaks like a true Trailblazer.'
A soft glow enveloped the three as Geo elemental energy wrapped around their bodies, forming golden geo shields. Liza, Pochi, and Tama gasped in surprise and turned toward Hachiman. He simply nodded at them with a gentle, reassuring smile.
"I may not be a Pathstrider of Preservation," he said calmly, "but I'm still confident in the shields I can make using my Geo emblem. So don't worry, whether it's a demon lord or a dragon god, those shields won't break. Fight with everything you have… and leave the rest to us."
"Thank you, Master!" the three replied in unison, voices strong despite their trembling hearts.
Then, just as their voices overlapped, the Undead Beast vanished from sight. One instant it was crouched before them, the next it was gone, startling the three girls into stiffening. But Sora, standing at the front, was able to somehow follow the monster's movements. Her head snapped upward.
There near the ceiling. The monster had leapt high, its massive body coiling mid‑air before it dropped straight toward Sora and the rest.
"Gruuu!!"
Before it could crash down on them, Champ ran forward in a blur, positioning himself between Sora and the descending monster. His fist shot upward with a mighty swing. The blow would have finished a normal creature but the Undead Beast twisted its body unnaturally, narrowly slipping past the attack.
It landed with a brutal crash between Sora and the three beastkin girls. The force of its impact split the ground under its paws, fragments flying in all directions and forcing the group to break formation.
"Uhh..!"
"Kuuu!"
"Nyaa~!"
"Awawa!!"
The monster pivoted with terrifying speed and slammed its entire weight into Champ. The impact made Champ stagger backward, his foot slid against the ground as he was sent away. Wan‑chan immediately jumped at the monster, and the two collided, snapping and clawing each other like those of wild animals. Their bodies slammed into each other again and again, each trying to overpower the other.
"Liza, Pochi, Tama! Once you see an opening take it! Hit the monster fast!" Sora called out, her voice sharp and remained firm despite the chaotic battle.
Then Champ shot forward again, swinging another heavy punch only for the beast to twist its body and slip past it with ease. Growling as if offended by Champ interrupting its duel with Wan‑chan, the Undead Beast jumped around him with sharp, agile movements, landing quick hit‑and‑run strikes. Champ let out an irritated growl, unable to pin it down.
"Wan‑chan, restrict its movements!" Sora commanded.
"Arf!" Wan‑chan barked, immediately deploying its funnels. They shot out in every direction, forming a net of traps against the monster.
Sensing danger, the Undead Beast tried to leap away and create distance but the funnels were already closing in. With its perfect coordination, they snapped into position, forming a barrier into a wall of light that pinned the monster in place, locking its limbs, tail, and lower torso.
At the back, Hachiman raised an eyebrow as he watched. The way of using the shields as interconnecting web to trap an enemy and hinder their movements was too familiar for him.
"…that Hajime, copying even my battle technique… I'll charge that idiot for copyrights later," he grumbled with a huff. The corner of his lips, however, went upward in an amused smirk he didn't notice.
The Undead Beast let out a guttural roar, pushing against the barriers but unable to move. Seizing the opening, Liza, Pochi, and Tama rushed in and struck in perfect sync, their attacks landing cleanly.
"Good job, everyone!" Sora praised them as she poured imaginary energy around her hammer. "Now—let's finish this!"
Sora tightened her stance, twisting her grip as she raised her hammer sideways. "Take this…!"
With a loud cry, Sora leapt forward and slammed her hammer towards the head of the undead beast. Its hollow eyes widened as the flat side of the hammer came closer, almost as if realizing too late that it couldn't dodge. The moment the hammer connected with its head followed with a loud bang as it sent the monster flying out, straight into the trap wall, same as the one that Tama discovered earlier.
Just a second later, the weakened section collapsed, and the monster fell helplessly into the pitfall at the other side. It didn't even scream—not a twitch, not a sound. Sora's hit had already finish it.
Sora blinked, staring at the broken wall. "Ahhhh!!! My Magic Core!!!"
"IS THAT REALLY WHAT YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT RIGHT NOW?!" Hachiman finally exploded after staying silent the entire fight, unable to stop himself from tsukkomi-ing her priorities.
"Muu!" Sora puffed her cheeks and pouted, earning matching looks of exasperation and disbelief from everyone else.
—--
After that fight, they continued toward the next room one that, according to the minimap, finally had several survivors. Sora, still pouting over missing the magic core from the undead beast, swung her hammer with even more enthusiasm than usual, smashing any unlucky monster that appeared before her.
She got so caught up in it that she nearly forgot to let Liza, Tama, and Pochi land their own hits for EXP points. Because of that, Tama and Pochi spent most of their time rotating between collecting the magic cores from the monsters Sora defeated.
Hachiman's cheek twitched every time he heard Sora muttering things like "magic core," "exp points," or "peace offering." The beastkin girls didn't help—cheerfully singing "meat~" whenever Sora defeated monsters with edible drops like frogs, buffalo-like creatures, or goat-like beasts. He absolutely stopped them down, however, when they tried to dismantle rat-type monsters; the mental image alone was too much for him.
For now, though, he focused his attention on the Magic Scroll they had found earlier. According to his appraisal skill, Magic Scrolls were disposable tools that allowed anyone, mage or not, to cast a spell. Someone simply needed to pour mana into it and recite the engraved command. Though it uses a stupid amount of MP for just a single use still. This particular scroll contained a beginner fire spell: Fire Shot.
'So basically, Magic Scrolls are like those consumable spell items in games that let players cast magic outside their skill tree,' Hachiman mused. 'Neat. I'll definitely buy more later.'
Then a new red dot appeared on his minimap, right at the same moment Sora and the girls froze and turned toward the passage.
"Hachi-nii!" Sora called out. "Something's coming!"
When he looked ahead, he saw it: a classic jiggly, round, semi‑transparent gelatinous blob slowly wobbling toward them. Every RPG player's first enemy.
Sora and Hachiman both blinked.
"The classic slime monster kita!!" Sora cheered, her eyes twinkling.
"Just when I was wondering when these guys would show up… impressive." Hachiman nodded with genuine appreciation.
"Fufufuu~ then let me take care of you~" Sora grinned, lifting her hammer.
"Ah—wait, Sora. Let me try the 'Magic Scroll' first," Hachiman said quickly. "I want to test how effective it is."
"Huh? Alright." Sora raised a brow but stepped back.
Hachiman moved forward, one hand extended toward the slime while holding the scroll in the other. He inhaled, then spoke clearly:
"Fire Shot."
A small orb of fire appeared in his palm and shot straight at the slime.
It hit.
It did absolutely nothing.
Silence dominated the entire hallway. Hachiman could swear the slime tilted its body slightly… as if asking him what that weak excuse of an attack was supposed to be.
Sora, Tama, and Pochi just blinked. Even Liza, who usually kept a neutral face, looked like she was politely pretending not to judge him.
Hachiman slowly lowered his hands. As a pop‑up notification appeared.
[Magic Skill Acquired: Fire Shot.]
"Ehem… well, since it was a beginner's magic, I guess that's how much it can do." He coughed, trying to brush away the embarrassing moment as his cheeks reddened.
Sora deadpanned at him, giving him a gentle look, while Pochi and Tama tilted their heads in confusion.
"Excuse me, Master," Liza said politely. "This might be presumptuous of me, but when fighting a slime, one must aim for its core."
She stepped forward, gripped her spear, and thrust it straight at the slime. A faint crack was heard and the blob instantly melted into a puddle of goo.
"Ohh!!" Pochi and Tama's eyes twinkled as Liza defeated the slime in one smooth motion.
"Ah…" Hachiman blinked at her words before rubbing the back of his head, embarrassed. "Right… the core."
"Heh… so even Hachi‑nii has moments when he wants to act cool," Sora teased, tapping her finger on her chin. "If Mei‑nee is here she will definitely say something like… 'How cute.'"
Hachiman's cheeks twitched as he blushed. He could practically hear Mei saying it in that sweet, teasing tone of hers.
He turned to Sora with narrowed eyes and reached out, pinching her cheeks. "Just what is this cheeky mouth saying?"
"Owieee!! Sthap iht!!" Sora yelped.
"Huh. Seems like your cheeks have gotten soft and jiggly—just like the slime earlier," Hachiman smirked as he continued pulling at her cheeks.
"Mehniee!! I'll theel yhof toh Mhay-nhee!" Sora mumbled angrily through squished cheeks as she playfully glared at him.
Hachiman flinched. His hold at Sora's cheeks loosened just enough for her to pull herself free. She hopped back, rubbing her cheeks with a victorious smirk—her threat had clearly worked.
"Heheheh… you wouldn't want that, right, Hachi-nii?" she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Kuh..! If that's the game you want to play… then I'll also tell Mei your blunders," he countered sharply.
"You…!" Sora froze, a bead of cold sweat rolling down her temple. "Fine! But I'm dragging you with me, Hachi-nii!"
"W-wha—what are you talking about?! I didn't make any blunders this time!" he protested, but even he felt a shiver creep down his back.
'I didn't do anything wrong… right?' he panicked internally, replaying their entire labyrinth adventure in his mind. 'She's bluffing… I should be safe… I hope… probably… maybe…'
"Hehehehehe…" Sora flashed him the most smug, triumphant smile—one that clearly screamed 'I got you now!'
—--
A few minutes later, despite the earlier commotion, they finally reached the room where the survivors were trapped.
"Stickystick~"
"My feet are sticky~ no desu."
"I wonder if these are spider's silks?" Sora muttered, tapping her chin.
Hachiman quickly scanned the room and found it completely covered in spider webs. At one corner, seven cocoons hung together, suspended like oversized silkwrapped fruit. Three of them matched the survivor signals he had seen earlier on his minimap.
As if sensing help nearby, the people inside the cocoons began to wriggle weakly, small, muffled movements that were less a struggle and more a desperate attempt to call out for help.
"Pochi-chan, Tama-chan, use your swords to cut and clear the spider webs," Sora instructed, noticing the movement.
Following her lead, Pochi and Tama moved to clear a path toward the cocoons. As they worked, Hachiman stepped closer and used his appraisal just to confirm who they were before freeing them.
Nidoren. A 40‑year‑old slave trader, level 15, with 'Negotiation,' 'Animal Taming,' and 'Arithmetic' skills.
Next was Tina Velton, 14 years old, level 7, with 'Social,' 'Etiquette,' and 'Fire Magic' skills. She seemed to be the daughter of the Viscount who helped them earlier at the park.
Lastly was a normal young man with no job. Level 3. No skills.
'What is this guy? A NEET?' Hachiman deadpanned before shaking his head. 'Regardless, we should rescue them while the spider is gone.'
"Sora, I'll free the trader while you deal with the noble daughter. Pochi, Tama both of you handle the person in that cocoon. Liza, assist the three of them," he instructed, pointing to each cocoon.
They nodded and immediately got to work. Pochi and Tama hurried to the young man's cocoon, slicing through the thick spider silk with their short swords. Sora did the same with the dagger she pulled from her storage.
When they were about halfway through cutting when Hachiman's minimap flashed a red dot, the spider monster approaching from below, likely climbing up from the pit passage similar to what they saw earlier.
"Be alert! Enemy incoming! Pochi, Tama, Sora—keep freeing them! Liza, take over and get that person out. I'll handle the monster!"
"Be careful, Hachi-nii!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Aye!"
"N-no desu!!"
A split second later, the ground nearby exploded as a Giant Spider about the size of a car burst out. Hachiman instantly formed a Geo shield around the others before stepping forward to confront it. The spider let out an indignant screech, furious that its home had been invaded.
He fired several shots from his pistol, all loaded with Geo‑element rounds. Each bullet struck the spider's head and legs, making it screech and stumble but it was not enough to finish it. The moment it retaliated with its rear legs, Hachiman's Geo shield appeared in a split second, blocking the attack just in time.
"Tch… stubborn thing," he muttered under his breath.
Switching weapons, he summoned Arsene's cane sword and stabbed it straight into the spider's head. A burst of curse flame erupted from the blade, burning the monster's skull in seconds. The giant spider collapsed with a heavy thud, unmoving.
Hachiman exhaled in relief but the moment was cut short as urgent shouts came from behind him.
"Tch! Don't touch me, beast‑child! Give me the short sword and I'll do it myself!"
"I–I can't do that, nano desu… This sword belongs to my master, no desu…"
"What was that?! You've got a lot of nerve for a beastkin brat!"
Hachiman turned, finding Pochi shrinking back as the young man she was trying to save barked at her. Tama held Pochi tightly, her own expression tight with worry.
'Wow. This guy's an ass,' Hachiman thought flatly. Then he noticed the familiar blond hair. '…Oh. It's that idiot who kicked the firewood out of their arms yesterday at the market street.'
"Pochi, Tama, come back over here," Sora called after freeing the viscount's daughter.
"Yes, nano desu!" "Yes!"
The two ran to Sora immediately, their eyes started to fill with tears from being yelled at. She caught them into her arms and gently patted their heads.
"Oi, you brats! Hurry up and get me out!" the young man snapped.
Sora's expression darkened. "Sorry, but I'm really not feeling it anymore. You can just stay there and wait to get eaten by a monster or whatever. One of your hands is already free right? You should be able to wiggle your way out, right?" She delivered the words with a cold, piercing stare reminiscent of Mei in full Herrscher‑of‑Thunder mode.
"Hey, that's not funny! Get me out of here now!" the young man yelled, his voice trembling slightly in fear.
"Can you please be quiet," Tina snapped, holding her aching head with a wince as she turned a fierce glare toward him. "If you make another sound and attract more monsters, I will burn you to cinders, down to your bones with my flames."
'That's… a lot of intensity for a fourteen‑year‑old,' Hachiman thought, raising an eyebrow. 'People raised as nobles really are built differently.'
"Maa, maa. Let's all calm down," Nidoren interjected, stepping between them after thanking Liza for freeing him. He lifted both hands placatingly. "Young man, I'll help you. But the young lady is right, don't shout unless you want more trouble."
That shut the young man up instantly. His jaw clicked shut like a trap.
Seeing him finally became silent, Nidoren exhaled and took out a small dagger, cutting the remaining threads with ease.
Hachiman watched him work until Liza approached with the magic core from the fallen spider. He took it, thanked her, and together they walked back toward Sora and the others.
'…I really hope I won't regret saving these people,' he thought tiredly. 'Let's just think positive. Maybe they'll increase our party's combat capability.'
Spoiler alert… he regrets it. Instantly. Like in the next chapter~.
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